Video: DNC 2016 convention bid invites go to Las Vegas, and …

posted at 4:41 pm on April 23, 2014 by Ed Morrissey

The DNC began its selection of a 2016 convention site in earnest, or at least mostly so. Fifteen cities got invited to bid for the late-summer event, including one of the RNC’s finalists, as well as one very curious choice:

The Democratic National Committee has asked 15 cities to present bids to host the Democratic National Convention in the summer of 2016.

In a letter sent to the mayors of each city, the DNC put an emphasis on locations that share values on “equity, inclusion, diversity, respect and dignity.” The party also emphasized a location with a strong relationship to organized labor, due to security and construction issues. …

Detroit? Isn’t this the same city that now struggles to find a way to hang onto its art collection after a fiscal collapse? The current bankruptcy of Detroit perfectly highlights what to expect after 50 years of Democratic governance, but is that the message that the DNC really wants to highlight in its quadrennial convention?

What city could be more appropriate as a setting for the celebration? Detroit was ruled, for a half-century or so, by a corrupt, one-party (Democratic) political machine that drove the city into the greatest municipal bankruptcy in the nation’s history and sent many office-holders to jail. Formerly prosperous citizens (Detroit once had the highest per-capita income of any American city) left by the thousands leaving empty streets, abandoned buildings, and feral dogs behind.

Joe Biden likes to brag that the administration “saved” Detroit. It would be fitting then, for a Democratic party to convene itself in this ruined city and be addressed by a long-serving, water carrying, pitch man who can say that with a straight face. Then the delegates could leave the hall and step out into the night and reality.

Nor is that the only potentially “perfect” venue open to Democrats. One of these cities were invited even though their initial inquiry was less than enthusiastic. Oddly, that wasn’t Detroit, but Chicago:

The requests for proposals to host the late-summer convention, which were sent to cities that expressed some form of interest, are to be returned to the DNC on June 6.

One Democratic official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the process, said Chicago’s expression of interest was a “little more undecided” than other cities and was akin to having “left the door open to considering” playing host for the event. Sarah Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, said the administration “will evaluate the opportunity this could provide and proceed accordingly.” …

While the city is Obama’s hometown, the president’s lame-duck status makes a Chicago choice questionable as Democrats pick a nominee to succeed him. At the same time, political parties also factor in the political value of a potential host city — particularly when it might help to locate the event in a potential swing state such as Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida.

If Democrats need to woo Illinois with a convention, they may as well save their money in 2016, and the same is true for New York. At least Michigan has a shot at being competitive, especially after the collapse of Detroit. The inclusion of Salt Lake City, Nashville, and arguably Atlanta are odd in the other direction. Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are, on the other hand, must-hold states for Democrats, and Miami is particularly important for Democratic ambitions in the Sunshine State:

Still, the inclusion of Las Vegas is a bit curious, too:

It’s not terribly unusual for cities to bid on both conventions, but one has to wonder whether the DNC is just hoping to pre-empt the RNC here. If Las Vegas hosts the DNC later in the summer, it will negate whatever political benefit Republicans hope to gain in a state with few electoral votes at stake. They could choose Cincinnati or Cleveland and compete for Ohio, which is much more significant to Electoral College hopes, even if Democrats choose Cleveland or Columbus for themselves.

At this point, though, one has to imagine that the RNC is rooting for Detroit to land the DNC convention, but few gifts like that ever materialize in politics.

Blowback

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Detroit needs some good news after all those years of carpet bombing. Wait, it wasn’t carpet bombed? You could fool me. Yankees only play there during the week, at night. Even parking a block away from Comerica I won’t step foot in Detroit at night.

I lived in Detroit in the late 60s (before, during and after the riot), and even then, when we went to a game at Tiger Stadium, we had to pay for “protection” for our car. Back then, the “protectors” were as likely to be Italian or Polish as black.

In a letter sent to the mayors of each city, the DNC put an emphasis on locations that share values on “equity, inclusion, diversity, respect and dignity.” The party also emphasized a location with a strong relationship to organized labor, due to security and construction issues. …

I once talked to a guy who was involved with the local committee when both the GOP and the Rats had put New Orleans on their short list. This guy was a die hard liberal but admitted that the committee didn’t want the Rats to pick them.

The GOP showed up and were concerned about stuff like logistics and the venue. The Rats showed up and demanded to know how many hotels were unionized.

The Rats picked Charlotte for that reason in 2012. How’d that work out?

Happy Nomad on April 23, 2014 at 5:57 PM

About as well as us holding Ohio in 2012. ;-)

Some experts seem to think it carries importance, but the ones the GOP is picking (Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Cleveland) I can’t really say makes any more sense than Pittsburgh. The GOP either needs to fold in Hispanics or round up a good portion of the Reagan Democrats. I guess we could use Hispanics to get Colorado (9 electoral votes), Nevada’s (6). Doesn’t seem worth it. Texas is Red no matter what. Missouri’s (10) we just got. Ohio’s (18) we just lost. I’m OK with trying to get Ohio back, but I think it’s time we started to look at more than just them. The opportunity is there for capturing white working class voters and making a statement. Especially when a typically Dem state like WV, who is looking at having 3 Reps & a Senator in the GOP is covered by the Pittsburgh Market.

That’s if having a convention in any particular state means a better performance for that party. Could be just a wash.

Working the train station for the Republican Primary in Illinois, a lunatic lib screamed at me that Obama had already saved Detroit, closed down GITMO and balanced the budget. Why not showcase all of these wonderful accomplishments. Do it.